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Melbourne: England ended Day 2 on top at 444 for 5, having piled on a lead of 346 runs. Trott was unbeaten on 141 while Prior was 75 not-out.
Jonathan Trott was the main assailant, carving out a century after coming to the crease early in the morning session.
The South African-born right-hander, who scored a ton on debut against Australia at The Oval last year, plundered the despondent hosts with ease as the odds of an England innings victory grew with each hour.
He remains unbeaten on 141 along with wicket keeper Matt Prior (75) after the pair batted through the last session, adding 155 for the sixth wicket.
Local hero Peter Siddle gave the crowd of 65,000 their only reason to cheer by featuring in each of Monday’s five dismissals.
The right-armer picked up three wickets on his way to 3-58 from 26 overs and took two catches at fine leg off inconsistent fast-bowling team-mate Mitchell Johnson (2-103 from 25).
Australian captain Ricky Ponting is likely to draw scrutiny for a heated outburst during the second session.
Tempers flared when wicket keeper Brad Haddin appealed for caught behind after Ryan Harris beat Kevin Pietersen's inside edge.
When given not out by umpire Aleem Dar, Haddin immediately signalled for a referral but replays upheld the decision.
A furious Ponting, with another Ashes series slipping from his grasp, argued with both field umpires, claiming there was a 'hot spot' mark on the inside edge.
His tirade lasted five minutes before he began a lively discussion with square leg umpire Tony Hill.
The verbal stoush drew criticism from former Australian captain and Channel 9 commentator Ian Chappell.
"I've got no idea what Ricky Ponting was doing arguing like that. You can question a point of law but you can't dispute a judgement call."
"It's not the first time he's argued with umpires, but it may well be the last. If I was Pietersen, I'd have told him to go jump in the lake - and I think a suspension would be in order as the ICC have got to get tough about this sort of thing."
"If the ICC don't punish him, the board should, the Australian captain shouldn't be allowed to behave like that," he said.
Australia had looked lively at points during the day and took three wickets in an action-packed middle session.
Pietersen (51) was first to go when Siddle's short delivery stayed low and struck his pad half way up in front of middle stump.
Paul Collingwood then skyed Johnson to the waiting Siddle at long leg and was out for eight, his 10th single-figure score in his past 12 innings.
Ian Bell (1) was out in an almost identical scenario shortly after, this time Siddle taking a skilful diving catch.
Johnson was denied his third scalp shortly before tea when Prior edged to Haddin off a no ball. Dar controversially called for a video review himself as Prior exited the players gate. The replay confirmed his hesitant suspicion, showing the left-armer had fractionally overstepped. It proved one of the pivotal points of the day as the sixth-wicket pair took the game away from Australia.
England went to lunch at 2-226 after Siddle removed overnight batsmen Andrew Strauss (69) and Alastair Cook (82).
Cook, the leading scorer in the series, was caught low down at first slip by Shane Watson for 82 after adding just two runs to his overnight total.
His dismissal ended a 159-run opening stand with his captain, the second 100-plus partnership between the pair this series.
Siddle then found Cook's leading edge, which lofted to gully where Michael Hussey took a brilliant one-handed catch.
England took a giant step towards retaining the Ashes on Sunday when they bowled Australia out for 98, their lowest MCG Ashes total, before powering to stumps at 0-157.
Sent in to bat on a greenish pitch, it was one of Australia's worst Ashes innings.
Seamer James Anderson shattered the top order with four wickets before Chris Tremlett helped himself to four of his own.
Every one of the 10 wickets fell to catches in the cordon with six being snaffled by wicket keeper Matt Prior.
Brief scores
Australia 98
England 444 for 5 (Trott 141*, Cook 82, Prior 75*, Strauss 69, Pietersen 51, Siddle 3-58)
Status England lead by 346 runs
